Blake Griffin apologises again for last season's assault on a Clippers member of staff

The number 1 pick in the 2009 draft spent most of the season injured with a troublesome quadriceps injury and only managed to suit up 35 times in the regular season, recording some of the worst averages of his career.

He would return in the playoffs, but his old injury curtailed his impact once more and the Portland Trail Blazers would dispose of the L.A. Clippers in the first round.

However, a personal issue with a Clippers member of staff really cast a shadow over his year.

Griffin, 27, was suspended for a total of four games and docked nearly $860,000 in pay for the altercation with Matias Testi in January at a Toronto restaurant. Griffin broke his right hand and Testi's face was severely swollen.

Testi was released from the franchise in the summer.

Griffin posted on The Players' Tribune website on Friday and insisted he still regrets the incident to this day.

"I don't want to dwell on it, but I think I owe it to Clippers fans to say it once again before the season begins: I'm sorry," he wrote.

Bearing all of his aforementioned setbacks in mind, the forward is more determined than ever to prove the critics wrong.

"We all know the narrative going into this season," he wrote. "Everyone's like, `Oh, they lose in the playoffs every year. Same old Clippers.' All I have to say to that is this: We're the same core group that beat the defending-champion Spurs in seven games just 17 months ago. I know 17 months seems like forever, especially in NBA time, but we know how small the margins are between winning and losing, and how quickly the narratives around teams can change."

Report author of article

DISCLAIMER

This article has been written by a member of the GiveMeSport Writing Academy and does not represent the views of
GiveMeSport.com or SportsNewMedia. The views and opinions expressed are solely that of the author credited at the top of this article.
GiveMeSport.com and SportsNewMedia do not take any responsibility for the content of its contributors.

Want more content like this?

Like our GiveMeSport Facebook Page and you will get this directly to you.